Tukwila immigration case sparks community response

Tukwila police and city officials respond to growing uproar after a man was taken into custody by ICE last week.

Author:
Natalie Swaby

Published:
9:00 PM PST February 12, 2018

Updated:
10:55 PM PST February 12, 2018

Community members plan to attend Monday's city council meeting in Tukwila to "reject collaboration between Immigration and Enforcement Agents and Tukwila Police," according to a press release.

Last week King 5 reported on a man who called police for help and ended up in ICE custody. Wilson Rodriguez Macarreno, 32, called police when he heard someone prowling outside of his home Thursday morning, according to his friend.

His name was run through the NCIC database, and on Thursday, Tukwila police said they discovered a "warrant issued by ICE." Macarreno came to the U.S. from Honduras, and had missed a court appointment in Texas in 2004, according to his attorney.

Macarreno was transferred into ICE custody, and is being held at the Northwest Detention Center.

Friday, Tukwila police said there was some confusion about the warrant. Officer Vic Masters said Tukwila police was not aware it was an administrative warrant. In the future, the department will not take action on administrative warrants.

"This is beyond ineptitude. How is it possible that Tukwila officials turn in a resident who called them for assistance? This only further corrodes any confidence that immigrant community members have in law enforcement," noted Juan Jose Bocanegra, an organizer for the Seattle-based El Comite, an Immigrant Rights Group.

KING 5 contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment, and received this statement:

"We are working on researching this case, and will provide cleared information as soon as it is available," said Lori Haley, Western Region Communications Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.